"Blessed is the one who considers the needy, for the Lord will help him when he is in need."
Psalm 41:1-2
Dear Friends of Anawim:
If you think this is a fundraising letter, well, it is. I apologize about this right now. I'm not comfortable with anybody asking for contributions, most assuredly not myself. However, we do need your help. Here's why:
Anawim is providing a service that few can do. Yes, many churches out there feed the homeless. I'm glad they do. They're making a great contribution to aid a very serious problem. But how many churches create a Christian community of the homeless? How many give the homeless a home, physically, spiritually and socially?
I'm not trying to say that we're better than other churches. Frankly, we realize -- better than most -- just how much work is involved in this process, as well as the heartbreak and effort in overcoming various kinds of anxieties. We don't expect most churches to do this. But because this ministry is unique and provides something most churches cannot, we need your help.
Because we are a community of the poor, we need assistance to maintain our financial base so we can continue to help ourselves:
-- We need help to purchase and maintain our center where we worship and offer showers, clothes and food.
-- We need help to maintain our community house where the homeless live in Christian community and given a place off the street, especially those whose health cannot allow them to be on the street anymore.
-- We need help to maintain our transportation which brings food to those who need it.
-- We need help to restore IDs for those who lost them
-- We need help to offer day labor for those who are unemployed
-- We need help to offer warmth to those lacking shelter in the coming winter months.
Every day, we are doing the work other churches might want to be doing, but can't. We are loving the poor, meeting their needs and coming up with innovative ideas to improve their plight. I'm not trying to boast, it's just what we have dedicated our lives to doing.
We aren't a large organization, however. Our base is really four couples and a number of homeless that help out. And we don't have a huge budget. So we try to make the money count. And it means that our people aren't dependent on our money, just our friendship, knowledge, prayers and space.
Would you be willing to partner with us? Even a small donation of $10 per month would help a great deal.
Last year about a dozen people offered to contribute every month to help us keep our doors open and to provide opportunities to the homeless. Now we are looking for others who might make this kind of commitment, as well. Would you contribute a monthly amount to keep our doors open? And I don't mean this metaphorically. If we get the help we need, we will be able to keep our doors open.
I know it's a hard time for everyone. But if you have a little, could you please help us? Whether you can afford a one time gift or a regular monthly contribution, it will mean a great deal , not just to me but to the hundreds of homeless people we serve.
To those of you who have given to Anawim in the past year, I thank you with my whole heart. You have kept us alive. Please consider doing so again. I wouldn't ask if it weren't so important.
If you are willing to give, please reply to me with the amount you are pledging to give.
You can send your contribution to us via regular mail at 3733 N Williams Portland, OR 97227 or you can pay online through Paypal here: http://www.nowheretolayhishead.org/support.html Tax-deductible receipts are available upon request with mailed contributions. Please make checks payable to Anawim Christian Community.
Thanks for your prayers and help. And thanks for your consideration. God bless you!
Steve Kimes
Pastor of Anawim Christian Community
www.NoWhereToLayHisHead.org
